I’ve been a big fan of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for years now — in fact, they are one of the essential supplies I recommend for spring cleaning. After I bought my first package, they sat forgotten under my kitchen sink for quite some time. One day my son Kell was looking for something to clean his golf shoes. I wasn’t sure what to tell him until I remembered those Magic Erasers under the sink. I told him to try one, and it worked like MAGIC!
It made me curious about just how these babies work, and it turns out the answer is pretty darn interesting.
Check out these magic eraser tricks in action in my video at the end of the post!
What Are Magic Erasers, and How Do Magic Erasers Work?
Magic Erasers are sponges made of melamine foam, which have been used for decades as an insulation and soundproofing material. About ten years ago, some smarty-pants discovered that melamine foam was also an effective abrasive cleaner! It works because when melamine resin cures into foam, its microstructure becomes almost as hard as glass – causing it to act like super-fine sandpaper on stains. The abrasive foam loosens up dirt and grime, and the open microstructure of the foam sucks it in and traps it there. Neat, right?
While a magic sponge will work when it’s dry, adding some water makes the job of cleaning tough messes a little easier. It’s similar to getting a washcloth wet before scrubbing the kitchen counter.
The only drawback I’ve found regarding these erasers is that much like a pencil eraser, they will break down and fall apart as they are used. However, I’ve found that a small piece of Magic Eraser works just as well as a larger piece, so you end up getting a lot more use out of each sponge if you cut it up into smaller pieces.
That one little tip will extend the life of each eraser dramatically and keep costs low for you. Another way to keep costs down is to avoid brand name erasers (like Mr. Clean Magic Erasers) and buy generic ones. I like to get my melamine foam erasers in bulk online! We buy them in packs of 20. They cost about $0.20 less per eraser than the name brand ones, and work just as well, in our opinion!
Are Magic Erasers Safe?
It’s so hard to find a cleaning product that can do such a good job without using chemicals. This little cleaning scrubber is just that. If you’re still worried about the safety of a melamine foam sponge, here are a few facts to help put you at ease.
- The ingredients in Magic Eraser have been safely and commonly used for many years in a wide range of household products and are considered non-toxic.
- No ingredients are subject to any health-related labeling laws in North America or Europe.
- Formaldehyde is not and never has been an ingredient in Magic Eraser. One ingredient in Magic Eraser (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer) contains the word “formaldehyde” in its chemical name. However, this ingredient is not formaldehyde and poses no health or safety risks.
How to Use Magic Erasers
To use a magic eraser, add water to the sponge, squeeze as much water out as you can, scrub the surface with light pressure, and watch the grime disappear.
Magic erasers work extremely well as a wall cleaner. I use them to remove scuff marks on my walls and baseboards. Every once in a while, I tackle all my baseboards, and every time they end up looking practically brand new!
- Remove marker, pen, and crayon marks off high touch areas (like walls, light switches, and furniture.
- Remove sticker and label residue.
- Clean those notoriously hard-to-clean fiberglass shower floors.
- Polish your silver jewelry, and remove tarnish from jewelry and silver utensils.
- Clean residue off-dry erase marker boards. (You can remove permanent marker from whiteboards, too!)
- Remove scuff marks, pen marks, and dirt build-up on leather couches, shoes, purses, and luggage.
- Clean countertops and other finished surfaces. (Always perform a spot test first, or check with your countertop manufacturer.)
- Remove spray paint from vandals or mischievous 3 year olds!
- Clean keyboards, mouses, and other electronics. Use on everything except the screen!
- Remove scum from your shower and glass door.
- Remove stains on clothing.
- Scrub tile grout.
- Clean grease from stovetops.
- Remove coffee, tea, and kool-aid stains from countertops. Be especially careful when it comes to granite and marble countertops – scrubbing too hard could remove the sealant.
- Clean microfiber couches and chairs.
- Remove scuff marks on shoes, as well as scuff marks on the floor.
- Scrub your plastic and metal patio furniture.
- Clean car interiors, exteriors, wheels, and paint scratches.
- Clean RVs and boats, inside and out.
- Remove bugs that are stuck on cars, windshields, house siding, etc. (Always spot test on glossy finishes, and rub very gently.)
- Remove ink and paint stains from hands.
- Sprinkle some baking soda into your toilet bowl and use the magic eraser to clean toilet bowl stains without harsh chemicals.
Check out these and other magic eraser tips in action:
What do you use Magic Erasers for?
NEW! Can you guess the 5-letter word related to today’s post?
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Saw on Pinterest where you can clean the inside of your oven door!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is it safe to use magic eraser on a bathtub that has been re-glazed? Or will it scratch the surface?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That should be just fine! But I would test and inconspicuous area first, just to be sure. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If your bath tub was reglazed professionally you will want to check if use of product will void any warranty. The company we used for our bathtub resurfacing prohibits use of magic erasers.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you really use it to clean your glass-topped stove without scratching it????
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Absolutely!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As usual great ideas and ideas that I learned. Thank you .
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wondered what you should do exactly to use on the microfiber couch. Just wet and rub?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! Just have the magic eraser moist, not soaking, and rub lightly :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I customize dolls as a hobby. The erasers are great for taking the shine and make up (painted) on plastic faces to give the girls a more natural look.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes beware using it on the skin! They will take off layers of skin very easily. My 2 year old drew all over her face with a perm marker and I used one to take the stains off but ended up giving her a terrible road rash type scab all over her poor face! The ink came off like magic – but so did her skin! Mother of the year moment I know….
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Using it on the floor will also remove the finish on the floor. Also if using on floors, be sure to scrub the residue off completely or your new wax finish will not take.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I ruined my formica table top using this eraser. It ruined the surface in several places and I tried to restore the shine but couldn’t.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you know anything about the environmental effects of these sponges?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another great thing to do with them is clean your iron sole plate. Gets everything off it.
Wet magic eraser thoroughly. Squeeze out water so it isn’t dripping. Lay on towel. ‘Iron’ over it firmly, back and forth with a hot iron. If the iron is really bad turn sponge over for a clean area. Will take off fusibles, starch build up etc.
Don’t try to do it with a piece in your hand and rubbing the sole plate. You will get steam burns as the eraser gets really hot.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much, was looking what to clean the gunk of my iron, so off to the shop to buy a couple of packets!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Superfine steel wool works for that too
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A caution about using it on skin. I had a boss years ago who used it to try to remove housepaint from her skin. She ended up with a road-rash-style abrasion because it literally took off the skin.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another hint for the erasers is NOT to soak then with water. Just spray them lightly with water from a spray bottle – that’s all the moisture you need to clean anything!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for posting this! Makes sense, but I wouldn’t have thought of it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another couple of uses for eraser sponges. I use on doors around handles & on metal storm door too. They work to clean white synthetic kitchen cupboards & cabinets. Any place where you touch walls, around electric switches & light/fan wall switches. Just have to get motivated.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Which side are you using to clean glass cooktop? I have the Mr. Clean ones.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Both sides of a Magic Eraser are the same. You might be talking about a different kind of sponge.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Which side are you using?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.hi, Mary, I know what you’re talking about. Some pads come with a course blue side. I’m not sure that’s the magic eraser part. The white foam part is definitely the Magic Eraser. I think the blue may be a different material, designed to just lift as much surface crud as possible then use the white side for real cleaning. For me, the blue side seems like a regular scrubby, doesn’t seem to have the same properties as the white side, but I could be wrong. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sounds like this would be great for cleaning outdoor tools — shovels, trowels, etc. Since I haven’t tried it, I can’t say for sure. I bought a package 2 years ago and then I didn’t know what to use them for. Now I have lots of uses!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There are a couple of different kinds of white marker boards, & I know from experience that Magic Eraser will ruin one of them! The boards that are made of particle board & coated with the white board material don’t stand up to Magic Eraser.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would hesitate using Magic Eraser on skin. My friend’s daughter had a kg teacher use a Magic Eraser to get permanent marker off of her arm. The girl ended up with a burn on her arm. It looked like it was a chemical burn and looked like it was not just caused by friction. Maybe adult skin isn’t as sensitive — I don’t know, but I would be cautious.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love it to get the corners of my white cabinets cleaned off where my cat rubs her face and marks them and the best to clean off my ceramic stove top. 12 years old and it looks brand new.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tip! My cat uses the stainless steel fridge and dishwasher corners and it’s so hard to get clean!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Melamine foam, cheaper to buy it buy the sheet and cut your own. amazon sells it. https://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Sponge-Remover-Stubborn-Cleaner/dp/B00H06LP38/ref=pd_sim_121_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00H06LP38&pd_rd_r=05R64JSRRTYHYGWGF428&pd_rd_w=71p4k&pd_rd_wg=cqtCB&psc=1&refRID=05R64JSRRTYHYGWGF428
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for this suggestion — really good buy, but read the comments first. Sounds like they are good for light to medium use, but fall apart quickly under heavy use — maybe not as tough as what’s available in this country. (These come direct from China.) I haven’t tried them, so I don’t know. One of the comments there suggests that Home Depot has a cheap, strong verson.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have also discovered it will remove self-tanner mistakes from your skin!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the Mr clean magic erasers. In our house we use them for cleaning the bathroom sink, counter and tub. It makes this chore so much easier.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can easily find a cheaper version of the magic erasers. My mom buys the cheaper non name brand version sometimes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you clean headlights with Magic Erasers?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Never tried it, but Jillee lists shower doors above, so I don’t see why not. Good idea!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes and it works beautifully. I have used them on everything, literally, during our (never-ending) remodeling.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you clean headlights with it?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.In love Magic Erasers (and have had a crush of Mr. Clean for years). Thanks for this list. I am so ready to do all my baseboards. I have been cutting mine into pieces for a long time, so appreciated the affirmation that I was doing something smart. I did it because I didn’t like the dirty eraser after I was finished, so using the small pieces made it easy to clean and discard. I’m new to your blog, but enjoy it tremendolusly.
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